Cedar Mesa trip

JR and I will be breaking in my Outback in the Cedar Mesa area for about a week sometime in April/May. I wanted to run my loose itinerary by you folks for any wisdom you have to impart! I have been closely following the questions posed by Rodney Ninow and taking notes on the answers and that has been very helpful. We hope to leave our options open to make the most of our time.
We plan to visit:
Natural Bridges (any hikes you would not want to miss?)
Mule Canyon/House on Fire
Road Canyon/Fallen Roof (thanks for the responses on these two in Rodney's threads)
Muley Point (thanks John Mumaw!)/Goosenecks
Valley of the Gods (good camping location? hikes?)
Other hikes/drives/camping spots you would recommend?
My last question is about gas stations. I am assuming there is one or two in this area? One of my greatest fears is being stranded :-)
We have 5 nights to play with and we will be sleeping in/near the car the whole time. The map is overwhelming with all the roads and the internet is full of information, I just don't know how to pare it down. Thank you for your help!
I hope spring is treating you all well.
See you on the road!

There are gas stations in Blanding, Bluff, and Mexican Hat (right where 163 crosses the San Juan River). Bluff is a small town and driving through on a few occasions in the past it has looked like the station was closed for the day. I usually get gas in Blanding and Mexican Hat.

The one time I drove through Valley of the Gods, it wasn't very appealing to me and I didn't take one photo. In my opinion it would be better to spend time in Cedar Mesa than Valley of the Gods.

Near the north end of 261 there is a ranger station where you can get some additional info on camping and hikes.

Thanks, Scott! That is really helpful! I thought the same thing about Bluff, but I went through in November, so I didn't know if it was a seasonal thing. I appreciate your reply!

You can easily spend five days exploring Cedar Mesa, Anne. If you have the time, I highly recommend the bible of Colorado Plateau hiking books titled 'Canyon Hiking Guide to the Colorado Plateau', which thoroughly covers Cedar Mesa and indeed the best hikes of the entire Plateau.
Three places that I recommend you see on your trip are the Citadel ruin, which is on the Road Canyon rim further downstream from the access to Fallen Roof ruin, and the Perfect Kiva ruin in Slickhorn Canyon. Nice images of sunlight shafting into the kiva can be had as seen in this fine image by Scott Bacon. Moon House ruin is also well worth seeing, but requires that you get a permit from the Kane Gulch ranger station located up on the Cedar Mesa (well worth a visit when you first arrive). All three ruins are unique, not that hard to access and are described in Kelsey's book. Make sure not to confuse the Perfect Kiva in Slickhorn canyon with the more widely known Perfect Kiva ruin in Bullet Canyon, part of the Grand Gulch system. A high clearance vehicle is highly recommended for almost all off highway travel on Cedar Mesa.
The most well known hike in Nat'l. Bridges involves dropping into the canyon and hiking to one, two or all three bridges with a return trip the same way or a loop hike that ascends the canyon at the last bridge and then weaves through a mesa top cedar/piñon forest back to your vehicle (see map).
A lesser known hike that the rangers don't discuss involves hiking down to Sipapu Bridge and then, instead of hiking to the other bridges downstream, hike upstream through White canyon to visit rarely visited ruins and rock art. I would still recommend doing the Bridges hike first if time is limited.
I agree with Scott that Valley of the Gods is not really worth visiting unless you plan on descending Cedar Mesa on the switchbacks (Moki Dugway) near Muley Point and then using the access road as a roundabout way to get on Hwy. 163 going toward Bluff as seen on this map.
Hope this helped some, and I hope you have a wonderful trip next month!

That is such great information, John, thank you!! I will be sure to get the book and check out those sites. I really can't thank you enough for the information. I am hoping the Outback will be able to get us around many of these roads, but we'll have to see how it goes. Great info about the ranger station as well. Looks like I'll need to get camping permits from them. I am so excited to explore this area and get to know a little corner of Utah a little better!
Thank you for all of your help!

Thanks John. I will be in that area June 9-10. Unfortunately the group I'm going with to White Pocket are going to Bryce. So I will be on my own. But this information makes it easier. Do you have a good spot yo might suggest to camp? Love your shot of Perfect Kiva. I think too far for me, a single hiker.

Anne, there's a great little cafe in Bluff across from the Recapture Lodge, if you get tired of cooking. It's the San Juan Kitchen & they should be open for the season by the time you get there (lunch & dinner). A little on the pricey side for Bluff but everything is locally sourced & well prepared. There are 2 gas stations in Bluff, but the one in Mexican Hat is generally cheaper.

There are a few nice places to camp on the road to Arch Canyon -- the first right & go all the way back to the creek if it isn't taken. You do get a little road noise, but it isn't bad. And if you continue up the road from Mule Canyon/House on Fire there are a number of good camping spots (it's higher, so will be cooler, which you may want in May). And any of the roads off the main road between the Kane Gulch RS & Valley of the Gods have some nice spots, too, but you may have to drive in a bit to find them. It's quite windy up at Muley Point, but there are still some good places off of the main road.

" I am hoping the Outback will be able to get us around many of these roads."

Your Outback will do just fine if the roads are dry, Anne.

"Do you have a good spot you might suggest to camp?"

None better than Muley Point, John. One of the best campsites and viewpoints on the entire Colorado Plateau, and it's right on the edge of Cedar Mesa.

" It's the San Juan Kitchen & they should be open for the season by the time you get there (lunch & dinner)."

Hear, hear! Fine dining in Bluff, Utah? Yes, indeed! Great recommendation, Monika.

Thanks for the info, Monika! I am sure there will be a day in there that we will want "real" food so we will be sure to check it out. Thanks, John, for the info on the Outback. We are considering taking JRs Jeep Liberty, but the Outback hasn't been on a trip yet. We are torn (better gas mileage on the Outback, better clearance on the Liberty). Based on the time of year I think we are looking at a 50/50 chance of rain based on past experience. We are looking forward to a night at Muley Point based on your suggestion.

Looks like you will have plenty to keep you busy for 5 days. I could spend a month in Cedar Mesa and never get bored, because, as John says, each of the locations are unique.

Muley Point is my favorite camp. Can't beat the view. Unfortunately I've always timed it for clear skies.

With the proper light, Valley of the Gods has potential. I've only driven through and never spent enough time there to do it justice. If you find yourself driving between Cedar Mesa and Bluff, it's certainly worth taking the scenic route through Valley of the Gods.

FYI - The Cadillac Ranch RV Park, just off of Main St. in Bluff, has some great showers available for $5.00.
No need to stay there.

Anne, I've gone to all of those places (except Moon House) in my '93 Impreza. Moon House was the exception because there were 3 adults , 3 dogs and a big, wet snowbank in the road. Last March, I never even put the FJ into 4WD, but there were maybe 2 places where the Impreza would probably have scraped the bottom a little. I'm pretty sure your Outback has more clearance.

When I went to Fallen Roof (Road Canyon) I was in a 1990 front wheel drive Mazda 323. The roads are fine wen dry pretty much anywhere up there, unless designated 4x4.

Your trip sounds great! I wish I had a week to explore Cedar Mesa, but requests from friends included White Pocket and Road/Mule Canyons.

Thanks for the car info! We will probably make the final decision the day before depending on the weather. I've managed to get clear skies and torrential rain on my May Utah jaunts, so we shall see.
Rodney, White Pocket is awesome, but I don't think I will ever drive myself there! Can't wait to see images!

John Mumaw & Rodney, there are good eats in Kanab now, too (a far cry from 30 years ago when good fried chicken was the major find.....). Check out the Rocking V when you're there. And, Anne, the little coffee house on the west side of Bluff has great quiche!

Monika, well noted! That'll be exactly the type of thing we'll be looking for!